What's the news?
Hyundai has just given us the first pictures and details of its new i30 hatchback, the car with which it hopes to take on and beat the Volkswagen Golf. Underneath is a new platform with its own bespoke steel structure, made by Hyundai in-house from the raw ore. It will also come with some new engine options.
The headline new engine is a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol unit with 140hp, which Hyundai will be offering as a diesel alternative alongside its existing 120hp 1.0 three-cylinder petrol turbo. It comes with a CO2 emissions rating of 126g/km so may well prove a realistic option for those looking to move away from diesel.
For those wedded to the oily stuff, an updated version of the existing 1.6-litre diesel will be offered in 95hp, 110hp and 133hp forms with CO2 emissions starting from as little as 89g/km.
A six-speed manual gearbox will be standard on all models with the seven-speed dual clutch transmission available as an option.
As noted, Hyundai, uniquely among car makers, also makes its own steel, so the i30 benefits from custom-made metal incorporating a great deal of high-strength, low-weight panels. As a result, the car is around 28kg lighter than before, at the body-in-white stage, which should help both performance and efficiency.
Hyundai has also focused on the handling of the i30, spending several sessions at the Nurburgring track in Germany, and has quickened up the steering response by around 10 per cent compared with the old i30.
Style wise, it's quite conservative with clear influence from the smaller i20. That's also true of the inside and while it's roomy, the 395-litre boot won't be breaking any records.
It will come with an army of safety appliances, though, including Autonomous Emergency Braking with Front Collision Warning System, Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping Assist System, Speed Limit Information Function and High Beam Assist. New to the Hyundai line-up is Driver Attention Alert giving the new i30 all available active safety features available and making it the car with the most advanced safety package.
There's a choice of five- or eight-inch touchscreens for the infotainment, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be standard-fit. The i30 will also have a wireless phone charging pad for compatible smartphones.
"We have listened closely to customer needs in redefining our offer to create a car for everyone. It's the new people's car: Accessible, appealing in design and great to drive," comments Jochen Sengpiehl, Vice President Marketing at Hyundai Motor Europe. "With up-to-date infotainment and connectivity features we offer everything today's digital natives and modern customers expect."
"To create a car for everyone, we focused on a wide range of different people," explains Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group, "So the design is an evolution of Hyundai Motor's design language with natural flowing lines, refined surfaces and a sculpted body to create a timeless appearance."